Chapter Text
"Yeonjun hyung, I have to tell you something…"
"Of course! You can tell me anything! What's up?" Beongyu's heart is threatening to jump out of his chest as he struggles to look his hyung in the eyes.
"Yeonjun hyung… I like you!" Yeonjun's face contorted into a frown. Just when they were interrupted by the loud ringing from Yeonjuns phone as it vibrated in the older's pocket. Beomgyu couldn't help but notice how his hyungs face disgustingly lit up when he saw the name displayed on the small screen. He wanted to throw up.
"Ah... Sorry... I have to take this…"
"Yeah… of course…" Beomgyu directed his gaze to the ground as Yeonjun took a few steps away. Smiling to himself as he took the call. As he talked to the person, he couldn't have looked happier. He held the whole universe in his eyes, and it made beomgyu's great skip several beats. Until he remembered one key detail. It wasn't for him. That smile was a smile that Yeonjun reserved for Soobin. And it made Beomgyu's heartache. His heart ached for Yeonjun. But Yeonjun's heart beat for another.
So he left.
"Hey Beomgyu! You weren't answering my calls or texts! Why'd you leave without saying goodbye yesterday?" Yeonjun storms into the sophomore's classroom, placing himself on the desk in front of Beomgyu. Beomgyu wills himself to looj away from the older.
"Oh… sorry my phone died…" that was a lie. "Something suddenly came up and I had to leave… but I didn't want to interrupt your call with Soobin hyung…" that was also a lie.
"Ah… don't worry me like that next time!" Yeonjun grabbed Beomgyu's cheek, eliciting a slap on the wrist from the younger. Beomgyu immediately stood up and looked everywhere except at Yeonjun. As he tried to hide the deep red that now rested on his face.
Until he made eye contact with Taehyun from across the room.
Taehyun seemed to be glaring at Yeonjun, until he noticed Beomgyu's eyes on him. His eyes widened, and for the minute they made eye contact, Beomgyu wasn't sure he blinked once. When he really thought about it, he wasn't sure he's ever seen Taehyun blink. But that was a silly thought.
Beomgyu mouthed a small 'help me' to the younger, gesturing to the senior in front of him.
Taehyun rose an eyebrow at him for a moment, confused. Until he finally picked up on the situation, and immediately stood, walking in Beomgyu's direction in a carefree manner.
"Are you ready?" He threw an arm over Beomgyu's shoulder, trying to not even acknowledge Yeonjun's presence.
Yeonjun look back and forth between them, before raising an eyebrow at beomgyu.
It was no secret that beomgyu and taehyun did not particularly get along. They only ever hung out in group settings with their hyungs, and even then spent most of their time bickering. So it was reasonable for Yeonjun to be surprised by this interaction.
"Oh hey hyung. Me and Beomgyu are just going out shopping for a bit. He needs new shoes. Isn't that right Beomgyu?" Beomgyu glanced down at his worn down converse, that were decorated with various tears and stains. He wasn't wrong. He did need new shoes.
"Uh- yeah! So we'll just get going now…" Without hesitation Taehyun took Beomgyu's hand in his own, and together they left, not bothering to look back at Yeonjun, who still sat distraught on Beomgyu's desk.
Beomgyu kept his gaze on the ground as he was dragged behind Taehyun. Not even realizing when they reach the mall, until he feels a sudden sharp pain on his forehead.
"Ow! Why'd you flick me!?"
"You weren't paying attention! What was I supposed to do?!"
"I don't know! Not that!" He rubbed the red spot on his forehead. How could one flick hold that much power?
It wasn't until then that he realized his hand was still intertwined with Taehyun's. Taehyun's hands were weirdly soft. Softer than any other guys he knows. No calluses, despite going to the gym almost every day. With large vains bulging out of the skin, that made Beomgyu sweat. He would find it attractive if it was anyone else.
He's finally cleared his throat, removing his hand from Taehyun's grasp.
"Thanks…" Taehyun just nodded in response.
Taehyun motioned toward the small cafe that stood before them.
"Are you hungry?" Beomgyu smiled at him. Gross.
"Only if you're buying," Beomgyu ran inside the cafe, Taehyun following close behind.
"How do you do it?" Taehyun rose an eyebrow at him as he spoke. "How do you just sit back and watch Soobin hyung fall in love with someone else?"
"I don't really have any other option." Taehyun put down his fork and looked Beomgyu in the eyes.
"Well you can't just do nothing!"
"Well what's your plan?"
"I don't know… show Yeonjun hyung that I've moved on? Maybe flirt with someone? Make him jealous."
"You don't wanna lead someone on…"
"Yeah… that's the danger in that maneuver…"
Silence took over for a moment, before Beomgyu looked up at taehyun with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"I don't know if I wanna know what you're thinking." Taehyun furrowed his eyebrows, before Beomgyu leaned over the table.
"We pretend to date! Grab Soobin's attention, make him jealous. And show Yeonjun how fast I moved on."
"But you haven't moved on…"
"But yeonjun doesn't have to know that!" Taehyun seemed hesitant.
"Oh come on~ it's a foolproof plan!" Beomgyu reassured the younger. Sure it was foolproof. But was it Beomgyu proof?
"Fine whatever. What do I have to lose?" Taehyun sighed.
"Yes!" Beomgyu yelled, pumping his fist in the air. Eliciting a few glares from people around them.
"Where are you going?" Taehyun stopped beomgyu as he walked towards the exit of the mall.
"What do you mean?" Taehyun gestures to Beomgyu's feet.
"You still need new shoes."
"Oh, I guess your right…"
A pair of Lugged converse immediately caught his eye. He'd seen them on tiktok a few times, but never in person. But he slowly put them back down after seeing the price tag.
"He'll take these ones" taehyun handed the shoes to the employee.
"What are you doing, I can't afford those!" Beomgyu whispered to him. But taehyun ignored him and pulled out his own debit card.
They walked out of the store, and Taehyun handed Beomgyu the bag that contained his shoes.
"I don't know when I'll be able to pay you back for these…"
"Did I ask you to pay me back?"
"I guess not… but-"
"No buts. You needed new shoes. Look at those. They are holding on for dear life." Beomgyu took offence to that, but he was right.
"Thanks…" Taehyun only nodded, never really meeting his eye.